WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors recognizes
that the treatment of nuclear waste is a regional and national issue that
requires the collaboration of all levels of government to develop practical and
safe solutions; and

WHEREAS, nuclear waste
treatment sites across the U.S. currently have documented leakage of
strontium-90, tritium, uranium, and technetium-99 among other toxic pollutants
into groundwater; and

WHEREAS, there are
already many barriers to quickly and adequately clean up the existing nuclear
waste at current nuclear waste treatment sites, it is unacceptable to consider
importing additional waste from other sites; and

WHEREAS, future receipt
of off-site waste at these sites are projected to have significant adverse
long-term impacts on the groundwater, which ultimately impact other bodies of
water; and

WHEREAS, transporting
low, high and mixed level radioactive materials across the nation on major
interstates, highways and railways will expose countless communities across the
country to hazardous radiation; and

WHEREAS, a study by The
U.S. Department of Energy several years ago estimated that over 800 adults
would die from cancer due to radiation emitted from the trucks in the Northwest
region alone; and

WHEREAS, in the event of
a radiological emergency in or near a city, significant impacts could create a
financial burden of millions of dollars to the emergency management agencies
charged with protecting the health, safety, welfare of its citizens and
visitors; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on The U.S. Department
of Energy to focus on the treatment and storage of radioactive waste on-site,
which is the best opportunity for our communities to avoid further health and
environmental impacts from waste, produced from other regional, decommissioned
nuclear facilities.